Southern California -- this just in

FBI clears former Assemblyman Mike Duvall

November 2, 2009 | 2:40
pm

Former Assemblyman Mike Duvall of Yorba Linda will not face any federal charges after an FBI investigation into his comments, made over an open microphone, that he had a sexual relationship with a woman who was widely believed to be a Sempra Energy lobbyist, officials announced today.

In response, Sempra said it has reinstated the lobbyist to active status as an employee. Lobbyist Heidi Barsuglia issued a statement saying, “This experience has been a professional and personal nightmare. I did nothing whatsoever illegal or unethical with former Assemblyman Duvall or anyone else."

Duvall, a Republican, was vice chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Utilities and Commerce when he made the remarks. He resigned Sept. 9 after his comments, videotaped during a lull in legislative proceedings, were broadcast over the Internet. The FBI interviewed some of his former employees after he quit.

In a statement released today, U.S. Atty. Lawrence G. Brown and FBI Special Agent in Charge Drew Parenti announced: "The FBI has concluded its preliminary investigation concerning comments made by former California Assemblyman Mike Duvall, and no prosecutive action by the United States Attorney’s Office is warranted."

Duvall said after he quit that his comments were not an admission of an affair, but rather amounted to "inappropriate storytelling.''

Sempra said in a statement today that the lobbyist also denied Duvall’s claims: “Consistent with the outcome of the government investigations and Sempra Energy’s own investigation, we have closed our review of this personnel matter and reinstated our employee to active status.”